Jaipur, Sep 18 — Political tensions flared in Rajasthan's Degana late Thursday night as the police lathi-charged Congress workers protesting outside the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) office over alleged irregularities in the nomination process for the Kuchera Municipal Council Chairperson post.
The Congress alleged that facts were concealed during the nomination process for the Kuchera Municipal Council Chairperson post.
Congress workers staged a sit-in outside the SDM office, demanding an enquiry into the nomination process and action against the Returning Officer.
Several Congress workers gathered at the SDM office and raised slogans. A police team led by station house officer (SHO) Ashok Kumar Jhajharia reached the spot after being informed about the protest.
Citing the Model Code of Conduct, the police urged the protesters to end the sit-in. However, the Congress workers remained firm on their demands, calling for scrutiny of the nomination papers and action under the rules over the alleged concealment of facts.
During attempts to persuade the protesters to disperse, an altercation broke out between police and Congress workers, followed by a scuffle. As the situation escalated, the police attempted to clear the area and used lathi-charge to disperse the protesters. Some youths were also chased away from the area.
The police action led to chaos around the SDM office, Tehsil office and surrounding areas. Amid the commotion, the police arrested Congress block president Prakash Kunkuna.
Congress workers subsequently raised slogans against the police action. They alleged that the administration and the police were acting under pressure and claimed that protesters were subjected to a lathi-charge during the night.
Congress members informed Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Govind Singh Dotasra about the developments. Nagaur District Congress president Hanuman Bangda also reached the spot. The Congress has reiterated its demand for an inquiry into the nomination process.
Dotasra condemned the police action and alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was misusing power to form boards in the municipal elections. He said Congress workers in Degana were demanding a fair hearing on objections raised against a BJP candidate over alleged concealment of facts in nomination papers.
He also referred to developments in Mandhan, where he alleged that elected councillors were being prevented from taking their oaths, and to the situation in Khandar, where he alleged that the family of BJP councillor Manvendra had been seeking his release after he was taken away.
Dotasra said the incidents raised questions about the functioning of the police, administration and the government, and urged the BJP to accept the people’s mandate.
Meanwhile, the political contest over the Chairperson's post in Kuchera Municipality has also intensified.
Following the oath-taking ceremony on Thursday, some individuals allegedly attempted to stop vehicles carrying Congress-backed councillors near Jhunjhala while they were travelling to Nagaur under the leadership of outgoing Chairperson Tejpal Mirdha.
According to allegations, a pickup truck and a camper vehicle were used in attempts to ram the councillors' vehicles. The councillors managed to leave the area and reached the Mundwa DSP's office, where they reported the incident.
They were subsequently brought to Nagaur under police protection led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Dharam Poonia.
A police contingent led by DSP Jatin Jain was also deployed outside Tejpal Mirdha's vehicle showroom on Bikaner Road. Kuchera Municipality has 12 Congress and eight BJP councillors.
Four independents have extended support to the BJP camp, taking its tally to 12, while 13 councillors are required for a majority. With the numbers closely balanced, the single remaining vote, currently with the Congress, has become crucial to the Chairperson's election.